The first thing that we did this morning was leave our hotel in Amsterdam. Around 9 AM, we loaded our suitcases and bags into the bus and began our hour-and-a-half-long journey east to Deventer to visit the R&D center of Nouryon. Nouryon is a chemical company that serves as the world’s leading supplier of organic peroxides, curing agents, reactor additives, and metal alkyls, working with large chemical companies worldwide to address new sustainability areas. Once we arrived on site, we received temporary badges to access Nouryon’s facilities, and were given two presentations: one on company safety practices (followed by a short quiz), and the other addressing Nouryon’s sustainability initiatives and what they are doing to achieve these sustainability goals. After the presentations, Nouryon was kind enough to provide various sandwiches and drinks for lunch.
Once lunch ended, we split up into two groups, received temporary lab coats and goggles, and were given tours around various laboratories throughout Nouryon’s facilities. DISCLAIMER: Nouryon asked that we not take any photos inside their facilities. My group first visited the biodegradation lab, which performs experiments to determine how biodegradable certain chemicals are. These tests can include recording the O2 gas released inside a closed container filled with a water sample containing microorganisms; O2 gas is produced as the microorganisms break down inside the test chemical. Inside the biodegradation lab, we learned about the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and how Nouryon tests their products to meet OECD standards to be able to sell to other companies. OECD allows Nouryon to provide reliable products regardless of location, as all testing is performed and tweaked to (as close as possible to) perfection, allowing the companies that purchase Nouryon’s chemicals to be more sustainable with minimal extra effort or cost.
After leaving the biodegradation lab, my group was led to Nouryon’s ecotoxicology lab. In this laboratory, Nouryon uses real-life organisms (small, tadpole-like, but not tadpole, creatures) and places small amounts of the test chemical inside the water they swim in. The purpose of this is to determine whether the chemical will negatively affect the environment, should the product be released in its current state for commercial use. When we visited the lab, the toxic effects of a conditioner product were being tested, which made me realize just how crucial testing the toxicity of chemicals is, as the products we use every day may contain what were once, for example, test chemicals from companies such as Nouryon.
Lastly, our group was led to Nouryon’s total containment tank, a 55 cubic meter cylinder that allows for a controlled, secure environment to perform certain tests on product candidates. This environment allows Nouryon researchers to have complete control of the pressure and temperature of the interior, so as to determine how to best preserve their products. In this room, we also learned of several failed tests, where objects have exploded; the employees hang these destroyed items on the wall and refer to them as ‘trophies,’ highlighting how Nouryon will try to reuse items to the best of their ability, even if just as decoration.
After leaving the room with the containment tank, we went back to the beginning room for a presentation on chemical recycling. The presentation highlighted the various ways to recycle chemicals, including physical, thermal, and chemical processes based on the material and conditions. Our host explained how Nouryon utilizes a circular economy, working to reuse old products instead of discarding what isn’t used. It was also explained that Nouryon is working to develop recyclable polymers by adjusting the MFI, or melt flow index.
After the presentation, we loaded the bus and headed to Rotterdam. It was a long ride, being nearly 2.5 hours, but I got some good sleep during that time. Once we arrived at our hostel, some of us got our own (definitely not personal-sized) pizzas because we were just that hungry. (I had only eaten a small sandwich and a Snickers bar from 7 AM to 8 PM, so it REALLY hit the spot.) I look forward to exploring Rotterdam and its surrounding areas over the next few days!